Carcinoma Finds Insufficient Evidence for Comparison

Insufficient evidence exists to draw conclusions about effectiveness, outcomes, and adverse events across most of the local hepatic therapies studied to treat unresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a new research review by AHRQ. Moderate strength of evidence demonstrates that radiofrequency ablation improves overall survival at 3 years compared with percutaneous ethanol or acetic injections. However, more research is needed, especially considering the relatively low percentage (20 percent) of patients who are candidates for surgery and the expected increase in worldwide mortality rates from this form of cancer. These findings are available in the research review, Local Therapies for Unresectable Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma.